Tubular heater



May 21, 1968 Filed Aug. 29, 1966 M. A. ZIMMERMAN TUBULAR HEATER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Mar/e )4. Z #7707 erma/r I N VEN TOR.

BY M & M

A T T ORNE YS May 21, 1968 M. A. ZIMMERMAN 3,384,052

TUBULAR HEATER Filed Aug. 29, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Mer/e A Z #nmermaw INVENTOR.

BY Huge! 9 Hand A T'I'ORNE YS United States Patent 3,384,052 TUBULAR HEATER Merle A. Zimmerman, P.O. Box 1653,

Houston, Tex. 77001 Filed Aug. 29, 1966, Ser. No. 575,761 9 Claims. (Cl. 122356) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A new and improved construction for a tubular heater, and a means of supporting the tubes and burners so as to uniformly heat the surfaces of the tubes.

In the heating of fluids such as hydrocarbon oils and the like, it is desirable to accomplish the heating of the fluids in a manner to avoid undesirable affects thereon. T o accomplish this, it is desirable that the heating of the fluids be substantially uniform and not occur in local areas on the tubes through which the fluid is conducted, which localized heating causes hot spots which may cause deleterious affects on the fluid being heated.

It is desirable to accomplish heating of the fluids while simultaneously avoiding flame impingement on the tubes through which the fluid is flowing to reduce the possibility of forming hot spots and to conduct the combustion of heating gases adjacent the tubes and through the heater in a manner to sufliciently and properly accomplish the heating of the fluids.

In a conventional heater, the structural strength required for supporting tubing and enclosure casing is provided by buckstays. These buckstays are usually heavy structural steel members such as standard wide flanged beams or I beams.

Further, it is well known that present tubular heaters are costly to construct because of the construction costs of the large area of the outer casing of the heater chamber. Also, since it is desirable to heat the tubular members on each side, burners must be positioned in the heaters on each side of the tubular members so that adequate heating will be accomplished which further adds to the expense of the tubular heaters.

An object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved tubular heater.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved tubular heater wherein inclined side walls of the heater are formed to provide supports for tubular members positioned in the heater.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a replacement for the buckstays in a heater which comprises an inner flange and two outer flanges wherein one of the outer flanges is connected to one end of the inner flange by a web member and the other outer flange is connected to the other end of the inner flange by a web member to form a roughly V-shaped indentation portion of suflicient strength to replace the buckstays.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a plurality of indentation portions for providing an economical base for the installation of conventional horizontal tube supports and a suitable location for the installation of burners for heating a series of outer combustion chambers.

The preferred embodiment of this invention will be described hereinafter, together with other features thereof, and additional objects will become evident from such description.

The invention will be more readily understood from a reading of the following specification and by reference to the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof, wherein an example of the invention is shown, and wherein:

3,384,052 Patented May 21, 1968 ice FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view partly in elevation of one form of the tubular heater of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 22 of FIG. 1 illustrating a portion of one of the side walls of the tubular heater of the present invention and showing one of the indentation portions therein with support means associated therewith for a tubular member;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of another form of burners which may be used with the tubular heater of the present invention illustrating'a heater enclosure and a side Wall; and

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view partly in elevation illustrating another form of the tubular heater of the present invention.

Attention is directed to FIG. 1 of the drawings wherein the tubular heater of the present invention is generally designated at 10 and is shown as forming a suitable enclosure to accomplish the purposes of the present invention.

As illustrated in FIG. 1 a central chamber 12 is formed in the tubular heater 10. The tubular heater 10 includes a plurality of supporting blocks generally designated at 13 for supporting the tubular heater. Adjacent and resting on the support blocks 13 is a high refractory concrete floor 14 which is constructed or may be constructed of a suitable heat resistant concrete material.

A pair of side walls 15 is illustrated as being supported on the outer support blocks 13 and as illustrated in FIG. 1 is shown as being constructed of the same high refractory concrete material as the floor 14 which is covered with refractory brick 14b. The lower corner or portion 15a of each of the upstanding side walls 15 is secured with the outer portion or edge of the floor 14 by securing the floor lip 14a to the inwardly extending side wall lip 15b.

A burner enclosure 17 is mounted with the blocks 13 and extends substantially along the longitudinal length of the floor 14 and is adapted to receive a plurality of burners generally designated at 20. The burners 20a are positioned as illustrated in FIG. 1 to extend outwardly from the lip 14a such that the flame of said burners will be in a generally parallel direction relative to the floor 14. The burners 2017 are positioned in the burner enclosure 17 such that the flame of said burners will extend upwardly in a manner to be brought out hereinafter.

The upstanding side walls 15 of the tubular heater generally designated at 10 are slanted inwardly such that the walls extend over the floor 14 and towards each other to be secured together by a convection section generally designated at 25 which is used for heating fluids in the convection tubes 25a by the products of combustion enroute to stack 26. As illustrated in FIG. 1 the convectior section 25 communicates with the chamber 12 througt the opening 30.

A plurality of tubes generally designated at 27 is illustrated as forming a first and second set of tube bank: 28 and 29 respectively. It should be noted that the tubes 27 in each of the tube banks 28 and 29 is positioned sc that each bank 28 and 28 is parallel to and spaced frorr its respective slanted wall 15. Also, each tube bank 25 and 29 is shown as having only one row of tubes 27 However, it should be noted that if desired the tubes 2'. may be positioned to extend vertically rather than hori zontally. It can also be appreciated that the convectior tube section 25 and the plurality of tubes 27 is mountec in the tubular heater 10 so that fluid is conducted there through in a well-known manner for heating thereof If desired, the convection section 25, and the tubes 2'. may be connected in series, so that the fluid is first pre heated in the convection section 25 and then conductet through the tubes 27 for final heating of the fluid.

Each of the side walls includes a plurality of iniention or indentation portions generally designated at 32, me of which is shown in FIG. 2, such portions being spaced along the walls at intervals depending upon the size of the tubes and operating temperature of the heater. the portions 32 are inclined to conform with the in- :lination of the walls of the form of the invention shown .n FIG. 1. The indentations 32 extend inwardly toward the central chamber 12 and up and down relative to slanted, side wall chambers 37 and 38, respectively, which sxtend between the walls 15 and the tube banks 29 and 28, respectively. Thus, each of the spaced indentation portions 32 is generally V-shaped and extends throughout :he height of each of the slanting upstanding side walls [5. The indentations 32 in the walls 15 are lined with refractory material and are formed by portions 32a and 52b which are inwardly inclined toward each other and extend into the inclined side chambers 37 and 38, respeczively, the inner ends of the portions 32a and 32b being toined together by the refactory portion 320.

Thus, the chambers 37 and 38 are interrupted at intervals by the indentations 32, thereby dividing the cham- Jers at spaced intervals; however, such chambers are open to the central chamber 12 as can be seen in FIGS. 1 and 2.

A structural support is provided for each of the inden- :ation portions, such support including the metal webs 53a and 3311 which are connected by the inner flange 330 which may be secured to each of the webs 33a and 33b 3y any suitable means such as welding or the like. Outer langes 33a and 33b are connected at the outer ends of webs 33a and 33!), respectively. A support or retainer )racket 35 is secured with the inner flange 33c and ex- :ends through the refractory portion 320 of each of the indentation portions 32 to retain or support each of the :ubular members 27 as illustrated in FIG. 2.

The arrangement enables each of the first and second tube banks 28 and 29 to be supported by each of the slanted side walls 15 and positioned such that the tube aanks 28 and 29 are parallel to and spaced from the slanted side walls.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, a refractory reflection wall 36 is mounted with the floor 14 and extends along the loor 14 and is spaced relative to the convection section 25 and both of the upstanding slanted side walls 15. The Jurners 20b are positioned on each side of the indentation portions 32 and extend through the burner enclosures 17. A suitable supply source of fuel is connected with each aurner in a manner well known in the art. This connec- :ion is not illustrated in the drawings. With the walls 15 slanted, the flame from the burners as well as the heat generated thereby travels up the walls and is reflected outwardly to heat each of the surfaces 27a of each of the plurality of tubes 27 facing the chambers 37 and 38. In this manner flame impingement and severe burning of the iubes is avoided. The burners 20a are of the type that include a flame that extends outwardly generally parallel to the floor 14 and as the flame extends outwardly, the heat and flame contacts the reflecting refractory wall 36 and is then reflected back towards each of the tubes 27 and also upwardly to heat each of the tubes on the opposite surface 27b adjacent the central chamber 12. In this manner, the tube banks 27 and 28 are thereby heated 3n each side for uniform heating of the fluids disposed in said tubes.

As illustrated in FIG. 2 there is provided another embodiment for insuring that the tubes 27 adjacent the upper portion of the central chamber 12 are sufficiently heated. If the tubular heater 10 is constructed such that the walls 15 extend upwardly some distance from the ground it is desirable to insure that the tubes adjacent the upper portion of the central chamber 12 are suflicient- [y heated. Thus, indentation burners, such as designated generally at 40 may be provided to supply additional heat. A burner block 41a formed of suitable refractory material extends inwardly from the web 33b and may be secured thereto by any suitable means well 'known in the art (not shown). The block 41a extends through the slanting portion 32b and provides a means whereby flame and heat from the burner 41 may be supplied to the upper portion of combustion chambers 37 and 38. The fuel supply line for burners 41 is not shown. The indentation burners 40 are generally of a flat flame type with a flame that extends along the wall 15 and does not impinge on the tube banks 28 and 29.

As illustrated in FIG. 4 another embodiment of the invention is shown and illustrated as including a central chamber 112 and side chambers 137 and 138. It should also be noted that the tubular heater generally designated at includes the floor 114, side walls 115, indentation portions 132, retainer brackets or supporting means 135, first and second tube banks 128 and 125, convection section 125, convection tubes 125a and a stack 126 all similar to the embodiment as illustrated in FIG. 1. The indeutation portions 132 are provided with metal reinforcing as described with regard to FIGS. 1 and 2.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, a plurality of indentation burners a and 1201), is illustrated as being supported by the webbing members 133b and 133a, respectively. It should be noted that the burners 120a and 12% are positioned at spaced, vertical intervals along the indentation portions 132 to insure that the surface 128a of each of the plurality of tubes 127 facing the side chambers 137 and 138, respectively, is sufiiciently heated by the burners 120.

As illustrated in FIG. 4, a plurality of burners 145 is positioned at spaced, longitudinal intervals relative to the convection section and is mounted substantially in the center or along the longitudinal center line of the floor 114. In this manner the burners will provide a flame sufiicient to heat the surfaces 12% of each of the plurality of tubes 128 and 129 facing the central chamber 112 so that uniform heating on each side of the tube banks 128 and 129 is assured.

To prevent flame impingement on each of the sides 128a of each of the plurality of tubular members 127 there is positioned in front of each of the burners 120a and 12012 a refractory member 146 such as that illustrated in FIG. 3. The refractory member 146 prevents the flame from the burners 120a and 12012 from scorching or overheating the tubular members 127.

Briefly the present invention relates to a new and improved construction for a tubular heater.

I claim:

1. A tubular heater comprising:

(a) a high temperature concrete floor;

(b) a first upstanding side wall secured with said floor and slanting inwardly throughout its extent;

(c) a second upstanding side wall secured with said floor and slanting inwardly throughout its extent;

((1) upstanding end walls one of each of which is secured to said first and second side walls and said floor at each end of said first and second side walls and floor, respectively, wherein said floor, side walls and end walls form a heater chamber;

(e) each of said first and second slanting side walls including spaced identations extending continuously throughout the vertical extent of each of said slanting side walls;

(f) a plurality of tubular members forming a first and second set of tube banks;

(g) means secured to said indentations in said first side wall for supporting said first tube bank substantially parallel to and spaced from said side wall;

(h) means secured to said indentations in said second side wall for supporting said second tube bank substantially parallel to and spaced from said second side wall; and

(i) a plurality of flame burners spaced along the bottom portion of said first and second side walls for uniformly heating the surfaces of each tube in each of said first and second tube banks.

2. The structure as set forth in claim 1 wherein each of said tube banks includes only one row of tubes, and wherein a convection section is supported at the upper end of said side, and end walls for permitting heat and gases to escape from said chamber.

3. The structure as set forth in claim 1 wherein said indentations include a structural support therefor having:

(a) an inner flange to which said bracket retainers are secured;

(b) a pair of webs, each of which is secured with one of the ends of said inner flange and extending outwardly therefrom and diverging to conform with the walls of the indentation; and

(c) an outer flange secured to the outer end of each of said webs.

4. The structure as set forth in claim 3 wherein said indentations are generally V-shaped.

5. The structure as set forth in claim 1 including a refractory member positioned on said floor and extending longitudinally the length of said floor and parallel to said first and second upstanding slanted walls.

6. The structure as set forth in claim 5 wherein 'a portion of each of said plurality of flame burners is positioned adjacent said floor and between said spaced identations to direct the flames and heat therefrom upwardly relative to said first and second upstanding slanted walls and the remainder of said burners is positioned to fat said refractory member.

7. The structure as set forth in claim 6 wherein saf burners positioned between said spaced indentations he: said first and second tube banks on the surface therec adjacent said first and second upstanding walls, T681361 tively, and wherein the heat from said remaining burnei contacts said refractory member to enable said heat t rise upwardly to thereby heat said first and second tul: banks, respectively, on the surface of said tube banl facing the refractory member.

8. The structure as set forth in claim 1 including refractory member positioned between said plurality burners and said first and second tube banks to thereb prevent flame impingement by said burners on said fir: and second tube banks.

9. The structure set forth in claim 1 wherein said fiam burners are provided with a refractory material locate between the burners and tube banks to inhibit flame in pingement in said first and second tube banks.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,342,011 2/ 1944 Richerman 122-35 3,066,656 12/1962 HenSel 122-24 3,302,621 2/1967 Klein 12251 KENNETH W. SPRAGUE, Primary Examiner. 

